Comparison of Treadmill and Whole Body Vibration Training in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

It is reported in the literature that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have executive function deficits, impaired social functions, emotional dysregulation, behavioral disorders and motor impairments. Furthermore, studies have shown that exercise, such as acute and chronic aerobic exercises and acute whole body vibration training, improves executive functions and motor abilities and so it is hypothesized that exercise may have a potential or additional treatment option for children with ADHD. Neurobiological researches have already proven the effects on brain changes during exercise and in the case of ADHD, increasing levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine within the front striatal lobes of the brain were highlighted when discussing the effects on this neurodevelopmental disorder. The literature emphasizes the importance of physical activity in children with ADHD, but there is no clarity regarding the frequency, intensity or duration of the exercise. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of treadmill training as an aerobic exercise and whole body vibration training on executive functions and balance in children with ADHD.